LumberJax lose two players in NLL expansion draft
New York takes Aaron Bold, Chicago picks Tom Montour
The Portland LumberJax lost third-string goalie Aaron Bold and veteran forward Tom Montour in Wednesday’s National Lacrosse League expansion draft.
None of the 11 returning NLL teams stood could lose no more than two players as the new clubs, the Chicago Shamrox and New York, each made 11 picks.
New York, which has yet to choose a nickname, took Bold with the sixth pick overall. Then Chicago took Montour with the seventh pick.
The LumberJax protected their top goalie, longtime league star Dallus Eliuk. His backup, Matt King, also will return in 2007.
Portland was an expansion team in 2006. The Jax tied Buffalo for the best regular-season record in the league at 11-5, winning the West Division title. Portland lost to Arizona 14-11 in the NLL playoffs; Arizona went on to reach the league championship game.
“Our inexperience playing in our first playoff game caught up with us,” Eliuk says.
New York will play in Madison Square Garden next year, while Chicago will have its home games in the new Sears Centre in suburban Hoffman Estates.